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Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Tool quality

bubbajames | Posted in Tools for Home Building on October 31, 2008 10:26am

I was going through my tools the other day and curiosity got me looking at the tags to see where they were made. My 2 14.4 Makita drills were Makita USA,Buford, Georgia.

My 2 Craftsman industrial recip saws-Made in USA, as were my craftsman and black and decker 3/8 drills. My makita Jigsaw was Made in England. Milwaukee 1/2 inch drill, angle drill, and jigsaw all made in USA. Ridgid hammer drill made by Metabo in Germany.

Now look at where these tools are made and the quality…Dewalt is mexican, as is porter cable now that they own them. The new porter cable cordless line is chinese. Ridgid power tools are by and large made in china. Some of milwaukee tools (hammerdrills in particular) are no longer made in USA. Craftsman and black and decker are chinese, even in the Professional line.

Are there any power tools made in USA anymore? Do you feel the quality has diminished in these  brands when they merged and moved production overseas?

Reply

Replies

  1. MGMaxwell | Oct 31, 2008 11:00pm | #1

    I just bought a Thomas air compressor made in the USA. Almost as quiet as an aquarium pump and almost as heavy as an outboard motor.

    1. bubbajames | Nov 02, 2008 11:47pm | #2

      everyone here seems to like the Thomas compressors- Good to know that they are made here.

  2. Piffin | Nov 03, 2008 12:09am | #3

    I wish people would quit with this myth that DW and PC are the same just because the same multinational corporation owns them both. That is like claiming that Electrolux vacumn cleaners are powered by Husquevarna two cycle engines because the profits from both companies flow to t he same corporation.

     

     

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    1. brownbagg | Nov 03, 2008 12:12am | #4

      japanese made tools are the best.

      1. User avater
        deadmanmike | Nov 03, 2008 01:27am | #5

        Yep, sooner or later they all double as hammers.

    2. bubbajames | Nov 04, 2008 02:04am | #6

      unfortunately, The corporation that owns them both has decided to cheapen the line. Less offerings, and discontinuation of the old style cordless platform. I am just saying-I wish they hadn't merged. The new cordless line is basically a replacement for Black and Deckers Firestorm line that will be getting discontinued.

    3. bubbajames | Nov 08, 2008 08:13pm | #7

      Good point, sorta. It is more along the lines of GM- Hummers use engines that are identical to the Chevy truck line. My point was more about the diminishing quality amoungst formerly Pro grade tools. PC is no longer in that category when it gets firestormed. Ridgid ruined much of its line as well by Ryobitizing.

      1. Piffin | Nov 08, 2008 11:37pm | #8

        You may be totally right. I'm trying to remember the last time I bought a new power tool....about 2-1/2 to 3 years ago I got a Fein multimaster and a Bosch jobsite TSThe age of my average tool is , let's see - old enough to graduate from high school more or less;) 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. User avater
          IMERC | Nov 08, 2008 11:46pm | #10

          there must be something amiss...

          we both are loaded up with some really really old stuff... 

          Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

          WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          1. Piffin | Nov 08, 2008 11:56pm | #11

            "some really really old stuff..."That's what she tells me!You left out the word Good
            as in
            "some really really good old stuff..." 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          2. User avater
            IMERC | Nov 09, 2008 12:03am | #12

            you have a point...

            some really really good and really old stuff it is then.... 

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          3. webby | Nov 09, 2008 01:07am | #13

            It is really shameful what they are calling the new line of PC tools. I saw the corded 7 -1/4" inch circular saw in the new PC colors I think it sold for 60 bucks. My Jaw dropped open and I realized it was hanging open as I noticed the front handle was like a bar that wrapped all the way down to the motor housing.  The base was just stamped steel that any of us wouldn't look at twice. It was just like the Taskforce brand saw that lowes sells.

            Hopefully PC will keep their heavy duty tools in production.

            Lowes still had the heavy duty PC sidewinder. Also the gaurds on the cordless saw- plastic! At least the Dewalt gaurds are metal.Webby 

             

          4. bubbajames | Nov 09, 2008 05:54am | #14

            They  seem to be retaining the old style pro grade tools on  a much smaller scale- No more mitre saws, corded drills, rt angle drills, fewer recip saws, ect. Still have the old style belt sanders and routers.

          5. webby | Nov 09, 2008 06:18am | #15

            Routers are what I would hate to lose. Also a good circular saw from them and the belt sanders.Webby 

             

          6. User avater
            dieselpig | Nov 09, 2008 06:38am | #16

            Yeah, if the Speedmatic goes it's all over baby.View Image

          7. webby | Nov 09, 2008 05:05pm | #17

            That is waht I am sayin'. It is bad enough what has happened over the years but without the routers and belt sanders, PC is "dead to me"!

            But ya know, why is it surprising it is a throw away world nowdays.

            Webby 

             

            Edited 11/9/2008 9:07 am ET by webby

          8. KenHill3 | Nov 09, 2008 10:05pm | #18

            Speaking of 'really good old stuff', I must say that this term even applies to some tools that were produced within the last 8-10 years, have now changed production, modified, outsourced with bad results, or just plain discontinued.

  3. User avater
    IMERC | Nov 08, 2008 11:42pm | #9

    Rolaire compressors...

    some Bosch....

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  4. gb93433 | Nov 10, 2008 12:52am | #19

    Metabo has made tools for other companies for years. At one time they made some tools for Rockwell just as did General did for Delta.

    Good tools can be purchased, but it is too many of the American professional and public who no longer buys high quality. They want disposable tools. With that kind of mentality a company cannot stay in business. How many contractors would build homes if they could not make any money on what they built?

    A few weeks ago I went into a shoe store to buy some shoes that I have been buying for quite sometime. The lady told me that they are not carrying them any more but they can be ordered. My comment to her was "what the matter are people to cheap. She said, "Yes."

    It is amazing how many think that because they see Norm use a new tool on TV that if they buy that tool it will solve their problem rather than taking the time and training to get skill.

    High skill level is far more important than the number of tools. I have many tools that people have seen me use who don't have a clue how to use them. Some have criticized me for not using a tool from 2008. On one occasion a contractor came on my job and asked me when I was going to leave the early 1900s. At that time I was mitering two boards. One was 3/4" thick and the other was 1/2" thick. When I was done I turned around and asked him how he would do it. After he starting explaining about how he would set up his Skilsaw and make the cut he realized that he was just blowing hot air. His Skilsaw would not adjust far enough for the angle. Then I told him in the same amount of time he told me about what he would do I was done. I cut the miter and then used a hand plane to make it smooth. He never said another word again.



    Edited 11/9/2008 5:06 pm by gb93433

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